Horse Collectors

Horse lovers start young. One pony ride, one well-worn library book about a wild stallion, and that is it: a lifelong obsession with manes, hooves and the smell of a barn. Whether your rider competes in shows or just daydreams about it, a hand-painted Limoges box is a gift that will never need mucking out. Each one is hinged, painted by hand in France and arrives gift-boxed, ready for a birthday, a first ribbon or a long-awaited first lesson.

From Paddock to Carousel

The herd here is delightfully mixed. You might find a horse standing at a fence, one grazing on grass, a noble horse head with a flowing mane, and a trio of horses running together. Riders will love an equestrian outfit complete with saddle, and dreamers can twirl away on carousels painted in red, white or pink and blue. There is even a mini horse that looks ready for apples. Each lid opens to reveal a hidden stall for a ribbon snip or a lucky horseshoe charm.

Building Your Own Stable

Horse collections grow fast, and porcelain makes it easy. Start with a horse in the coat color of a favorite mount, then add carousel horses for whimsy and riding gear for flair. A collection looks wonderful on a shelf above a tack trunk or on a desk next to ribbons and show photos. Carousel boxes in particular make a fun little centerpiece; group them in a circle and you have a tiny fairground.

Off to the races? Browse Kentucky Derby & Derby Parties. For more fairground fun, see Carousels & Circus, and for boots and saddles, ride over to Cowboys, Cowgirls & Texans.